Kenneth Faried, PF24 MIN | 7-13 FG | 3-4 FT | 12 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 5 TO | 17 PTS | -7I guess this is the point where we start to get grading Faried on a curve. 17 points and 12 rebounds are great, but those 5 turnovers were not just killers, but unnecessary killers. Faried having carte blanche to play point forward in transition is super entertaining, but his unwillingness (and/or inability) to pass the ball to anybody not on the other team is a rather big problem.

Quincy Miller, SF13 MIN | 0-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | -17Not much to say here, unmemorable 13 minutes for Quincy. Shaw’s new small ball offense, usually playing Foye or Fournier at the three in the absence of Chandler, doesn’t really have a role for Miller at the moment.

Timofey Mozgov, C28 MIN | 4-10 FG | 4-5 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 13 PTS | -4Mozgov’s numbers really haven’t done anything drastic since the Allstar break but there’s been a real regression. While JJ Hickson wasn’t really the alternative, Mozzy is just not a starting center. He’s too athletically disinclined and games where his size should make a difference on defense, like this one, he’s not doing enough in the post to keep the ZBo’s of the world away from the rim.

Aaron Brooks, PG40 MIN | 5-13 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 11 PTS | -8Denver has a decision to make on Brooks this offseason. He’s played really well for Denver and having a secondary ball handler as competent as Brooks is a must in the league nowadays. But Nate Robinson renders Brooks a tad redundant, and its easy to forget how good NateRob was playing defensively before he went down. I’ve come around on Brooks but I don’t know if the roster can handle that many 6-foot and under guards.

Randy Foye, SG39 MIN | 6-13 FG | 5-6 FT | 9 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 21 PTS | -11Foye’s been playing a lot of small forward lately and it’s been suiting him, on offense at least. He seems game to rebound like a three and, as long as Wilson Chandler’s defense stays as apathetic as its been this season, I wouldn’t mind seeing this becoming a more permanent fixture. Chandler’s always been better as a small-ball four off the bench anyway.

Darrell Arthur, PF24 MIN | 1-9 FG | 3-3 FT | 7 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 2 BLK | 2 TO | 6 PTS | +7Arthur is REALLY embracing this three point shot isn’t he? It’s still rather inconsistent but, as long as it’s taken within the flow of the offense I’m good with however many he’d like to take. They’re infinitely preferable to elbow jumpers hit at a similar rate. Still, his offense was struggling all game which is a shame because he was the only big Denver had who seemed equip to handle the Grizzlies’ front court.

Jan Vesely, PF21 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 2 PTS | -12You can see shades of skill when Vesely comes off the pick at the elbow and launches a pass cross-court to an open shooter in the corner. But then you the rest of his palette when that pass sails into the fifth row.

Ty Lawson, PG32 MIN | 3-8 FG | 10-12 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 16 PTS | +7This may be the last we see of Ty this season, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing other than the fact that these last hand full of games are going to be really tough watches. The season’s been over for awhile and Lawson’s probably exhausted from trying to keep this anchor of a team afloat. All we can do is hope it isn’t anything debilitating enough to bleed too far into the offseason.

Evan Fournier, SG20 MIN | 2-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 6 PTS | +5I like Fournier at the three, but his shooting has to be better than this if that’s going to be his role on the team moving forward. He’s a solid pick and roll option if the initial play breaks down but his primary role needs to be coming off screens and making open shots.

Brian Shaw
Shaw was heated at the officials and it’s hard to blame him. The game wasn’t so much officiated in favor of Memphis as it was inconsistently called. If you’re going to establish that this game is going to be called loosely, don’t switch it up mid-way through. As for the coaching itself, Shaw was solid I guess. He seems to have fully embraced small-ball (although his wanting to counter Memphis’ size probably accentuated it) in the back court. It will be interesting seeing what moves Denver makes going forward, Shaw’s defensive principles can’t be executed the way he wants them to with as diminutive a back court as the Nuggets are trotting out right now.

One Thing We Saw

That 3/4 court alley-oop from Aaron Brooks to Ty Lawson is one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen. An alley-oop connection from two guys under six feet! http://www.nba.com/socialvideo/index.html?s=216760

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You give Shaw an A+ because you “guess” he was solid? Shouldn’t a guy have to do something kinda special to get an A+?

mike gomez

he got the team to compete, and did well for what he got to work with

heykyleinsf

thank you.

Outside of putting AR in.. dunno what ideas anyone else would have had. To me this is the biggest crazy subplot at this point. Still a year left on his deal… I honestly can’t tell you if I’ve ever seen a Nugget deeper on the bench than this.

Nugman

And that deserves an A+? Isn’t that what coaches are suppose to do?

heykyleinsf

Yes. That’s what they are supposed to do.
And that’s what he did.
I agree.
A+

DavidRMC

Whoops, honestly I forgot to give Shaw a grade, the default is an A+. Let’s pretend it’s like a C or something…

DavidRMC

Although, grading coaches on a game-by-game basis is extremely results oriented so take that for what it’s worth.

heykyleinsf

Completely bench Ty.. for all intents and purposes.. this is the preseason.

Still angry?

About what?

James Duff

dude, you’ve been *****ing against tanking for the last couple months and now you accept the season is over?

At least (and I don’t wish this on anyone, its just going to help the cause) Melo is hurt and the knicks might start losing again

heykyleinsf

There’s six games left. All I’m saying is hold him out so he doesn’t get hurt. Like I said.. it’s preseason now.. I want Ty healthy for next year. I just want this season to end before we lose anyone else.. especially Ty Lawson.

As far as the draft.. we’re set pretty much where we are.. it’s not going to change much by winning or losing.

James Duff

It isn’t the preseason, its a lost season, and its been that way for quite a while. (losing mcgee + galo for the season is a pretty big setback). Only reason lawson got as few minutes as he did was because he missed a team meeting… But I do agree, sit lawson, he is a small penetrating point guard, and that comes with a shelf life.

David Acker

Good fight. Mozzy shooting threes though WTF

heykyleinsf

IKR… would be nice if he mastered the 5ft arc before moving on to the 30ft arc

David Acker

hahaha! Mozzy is a good if not great back up but he is not a starter in my book

Nugman

I predict that before next season ends Ty has a run in with Shaw like Dre did. You can see on his face he ain’t buying what Shaws selling and that’s affecting his game. What happened today was just acting out that frustration. It’s starting to boil…

Heisenberg

Knowing the inept idiots in the front office they’ll keep Shaw and trade Lawson for pennies on the dollar.

heykyleinsf

I don’t see what you’re seeing with Ty.
But even so.. Ty is no angel.
Missing a meeting is punk behavior.
We’ll see what’s behind it..both ways.
But on the surface.. it’s doesn’t look good from Ty.

And seriously. FK Andre Miller.
That guy is a jerk.
Funny how all the sudden people miss him now.
Let’s look on this board about this time last year.
That should ring a few bells.
Convenient using him both ways.
You can’t let the players take over the team.
Is that what you want?

Richard Pesicka

When a players attitude is affected by a rookie coach and that player may be mentally harmed, it’s time to really think about if and why we have that coach. Lawson is a professional. To treat him with less respect is what you get with Shaw. It’s time to part ways with Shaw and have a responsible coach whom the players will respect brought into the fold. Mark my words, if Shaw stays, this team will not play to it’s full potential for him. The fans can see it and sense it. It was an experiment that at times was fun, but then just because it’s fun doesn’t mean much at the end of the day, when you have a losing record.

heykyleinsf

WAIT A MINUTE.
Ty Lawson missed a team meeting.
NOW COME ON.
Seriously.. what would you have had Shaw do?

Aaron Durkin

I got to watch this game and I have to admit that I was impressed. Playing a very good team at home that is fighting for a playoff spot it was good to see the team fight. I thought Lawson did a very good job defensively on Conley and Faried was much better then on zobo. I thought there grades should have higher.
To be honest I like our draft position better now. I read a couple of good interviews with Danny Angie and jerry west and they both think that the top prospects are way overrated. In our position we should be able to get a upperclassman that might be able to contribute in the next few years.